It is a ritual followed during the 9-day
Navratri festival and Dashain festival. Dashain festival is celebrated in the northeastern states of India and neighboring country Nepal. The Ghatasthapna ritual marks the beginning of both the festivals.
How Ghatasthapna Festival is done:
During Ghatasthapna, people fill "holy water" in a Kalash. The kalash is then coated with cow dung and barley seeds are sown in it. It is then placed in a sand pit which is also sown with barley seeds. This Kalash is blessed by pujari who asks Devi Durga to reside in the pot for the entire festival.
The pot is worshiped by a family member twice a day, every day till the festival is over. The Kalash is kept away from incense and holy water is poured into it daily. This activity results in a tall, yellow grass growing from the pot called a "
jamara".
Auspicious time for Ghatasthapna:
On the first day of
Shardiya Navratri, worship of Maa Durga is started with the establishment of Kalash.
Chaitra Navratri Ghatasthapana is 30 March 2025
Ghatasthapana Muhurta – 6:13 AM to 10:22 AM
❀ Ghatasthapana Abhijit Muhurta - 12:01 PM to 12:50 PM
❀ Ghatasthapana Muhurta is on Pratipada Tithi.
❀ Pratipada Tithi – March 29, 2025 at 4:27 PM to March 30, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Ghatasthapana is also known as Kalashasthapana.
Many rituals performed during Ghatasthapna are kept secret. This ritual is performed all over India on the first day of Shardiya Navratri.